Board Update 9/11/2023
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Board Recognition/Presentations
Agenda Item 3.0
Wold Educational Adequacy Assessment Presentation – 3.01
Wold Architects & Engineers were contracted to perform an educational alignment study on the three junior high buildings as well as Brentwood Elementary. Representatives from Wold presented their findings to the board. The discussion included a review of emerging themes, physical conditions, safety and security, capacity and enrollment, and curriculum initiatives and delivery. You can view the presentation here.
Wold will continue to evaluate potential options to address the current needs at Brentwood Elementary, and they will present their findings and options at an upcoming board meeting. Discussions will continue to take place throughout the school year regarding options for addressing the needs at the three junior high schools as identified by the study as well.
Superintendent Reports
Agenda Item 5.0
SRO Task Force Presentation – 5.02
For the 2023-2024 school year, the district’s Safety Committee designated four areas of focus. School Resource Officer (SRO) programming was one of the four areas identified. Representatives from the task force presented an overview of the task force’s first meeting held on Monday, August 28, 2023. The board will continue discussions about potential SRO programming at the October board meeting.
You can view the presentation here.
ACTION ITEMS
Agenda Item 7.0
ESSA (Every Student Succeeds Act) Title I School Improvement 1003(a) Grant and IL-Empower School Improvement Plan Approval – 7.01
Any school in Illinois that is targeted for improvement by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) must have a School Improvement Plan approved by the district Board of Education. Rupley Elementary was designated as a targeted school as part of the Illinois School Report Card two years ago, meaning a group of students performed below a specific level.
Rupley staff created a plan to address the necessary improvement, which the board reviews annually. The school has received $54,000 from the state to help implement this plan. If this targeted group shows improvement to earn a higher designation before the four-year timeline of the plan, Rupley can exit the plan early. It is currently year two of the plan. The board approved Rupley’s School Improvement Plan.
Adoption of Budget: Fiscal Year 2023/24 – 7.02
A public notice was published in the Journal & Topics Newspapers on June 28, 2023, announcing that the Community Consolidated School District 59 2023/24 tentative budget would be on display commencing at 9:00 a.m. on July 1, 2023. A certificate of publication of the public notice is on file in the District 59 Business Services office. The tentative budget has also been available for public viewing on the district’s website.
The 2023/24 Budget has been on public display since July 1, 2023, meeting the thirty (30) day requirement. The board adopted the 2023/24 Budget, and copies of it will now be sent to the office of the Illinois State Board of Education.
Approval of District 59 Education Foundation Donation – 7.03
The District 59 Education Foundation facilitated the collection of memorial targeted donations totaling $2,175 for three former CCSD59 staff members who passed away in 2023. The donations included:
- Backpacks purchased for the district backpack drive. They were distributed to students on August 4th and 5th totaling $125.
- Funds for needs/purchases identified to enhance the orchestra program in CCSD59 totaling $825.
- Funds to purchase books and materials to enhance programming in the LRC at Holmes Junior High totaling $1,225.
The board approved the District 59 Education Foundation donation in the amount totaling $2,175.
Approval of Donation from Enchanted Backpack to Juliette Low Elementary School – 7.04
Enchanted Backpack provides schools with supplies and books in both English and Spanish through their Mobile Van Delivery grant program. Juliette Low Social Worker, Maureen Filantres, applied for the Enchanted Backpack donation, and the school was named one of this year’s Enchanted Backpack Mobile Van Delivery grant recipients.
The board approved the Enchanted Backpack donation to Juliette Low Elementary School with an estimated value of $2,000.
DISCUSSion Items
Agenda Item 8.0
Prepare 2023 Tax Levy And Set Date – 8.01
CCSD59 plans to hold a public hearing on November 13, 2023, for the purpose of discussing the 2023 tax levy. The district will then send the final levy to the state before the last Tuesday of December as required by Illinois School Code.
Prepare 2024-2025 Budget – 8.02
With the 2023-2024 budget adopted, the district will now begin the process of preparing the 2024-2025 budget. Ongoing discussions will be held with the Finance and Facilities Committee and updates will be provided to the board as the process moves forward.
Mass Action Lawsuit – 8.03
The district has the opportunity to participate in a mass action lawsuit against large social media companies. There are currently 30 other districts in Illinois that have already joined this suit being represented by Franczek attorneys, nine of which are in the local area. There is no cost to the district if the lawsuit is unsuccessful. The district would dedicate a point person to coordinate with the attorneys on the lawsuit. The Board would need to approve the district’s participation in the lawsuit at the October meeting.
INFORMATion Items
Agenda Item 10.0
10 Year Facilities Plan – 10.01
The district will continue to review and update the 10 Year Facilities Plan, and the Finance and Facilities Committee will discuss and evaluate any updates and adjustments that need to be made as a result of the Wold Adequacy Study as well as projects that have been completed in the current 10 Year Plan.
TDP Review – 10.02
The Talent Development Program (TDP) will be reviewed this year to identify areas for improvement in the identification process, delivery of instruction, and enhancement of the curriculum in the program.
Final Social Science Pilot – 10.03
The final Social Science curriculum pilot is currently taking place. The timeline is to have board discussion in November with board action planned for December.
